2026 FIFA World Cup Play Collective to Empower Youth Through Sport

As the world's biggest sporting tournament approaches, a groundbreaking initiative is ensuring that the 2026 FIFA World Cup leaves a lasting positive impact beyond the pitch. The Play Collective program, a joint effort by the Adidas Foundation, Beyond Sport Foundation, and Common Goal, will operate across host city regions to provide funding and support for community sports organizations. Common Goal's worldwide network of community-based organizations serves 3.6 million youth each year.

The 2026 World Cup will feature 48 national football teams competing across 104 matches in Mexico, Canada, and the United States from June 11 to July 19, with the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. But the impact is designed to extend far beyond the games themselves.

Speaking at a United Nations event marking the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, observed on April 6, Common Goal Executive Director Mary Connor drew parallels between football teamwork and global collaboration, emphasizing how sport brings people together "across differences, across cultures that keep us isolated."

Nawal El Moutawakel, the pioneering Moroccan athlete who became the first Muslim woman to win an Olympic gold medal and now serves as IOC Vice President, reflected on sport's transformative power. She spoke about how discipline and determination helped her persevere through setbacks, and how sport creates spaces for dialogue, solidarity, and mutual respect.

The United Nations highlighted that sport can have a transformative effect in every society, connecting communities across borders and generations, and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals. The Play Collective specifically targets youth in underserved communities who may lack access to organized sports.

With the tournament just over two months away, excitement is building worldwide for an event that promises both world-class competition and meaningful social impact through grassroots programs.